Kicking aid for a shoe and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A kicking aid for a shoe and method therefor, comprising a sleeve adapted to be fitted over an arch area of a shoe to provide a wearer with larger, stronger and more even kicking surfaces to enable a player to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 29/131,019, filed Oct. 16, 2000, in the name of the Applicant, towhich priority is claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to shoes and, more specifically,to a kicking aid for a shoe comprising a sleeve adapted to fit over anarch area of a shoe and dimensioned to provide larger kicking surfacesto enable a wearer to kick a ball with more power and accuracy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A shoe is used to make contact with a ball in soccer, rugby,football and other sports. Soccer, or football as it is referred to inmost countries outside of the United States, is the most popular sportworldwide. During a game of soccer, players mostly use their feet tocontrol and manipulate a soccer ball. When passing from one player toanother, generally a soccer player will use either an inner portion ofhis shoe when passing across his body and an outer portion of his shoewhen passing away from his body. When either shooting on goal or kickingthe ball for distance, generally a soccer player will make contact withan upper portion of the shoe. In football and rugby, a player also usesboth the upper portion of his shoe (when punting a football or rugbyball for example) and the inner portion of a shoe (during a kickoff infootball for example).

[0004] It is often the case, however, that soccer shoes and other sportsshoes do not provide a sufficiently large enough and strong enoughkicking surface on either the inner, outer or upper surfaces of theshoe. Shoelaces, due to the uneven way in which they lay across theupper portion of a shoe, can also interfere with the accuracy and powerof a kick.

[0005] A need therefore existed for a kicking aid capable of beingfitted over a shoe to provide larger, stronger and more even kickingsurfaces to an inner portion, an outer portion and an upper portion of ashoe, thus enabling a player to kick a ball with more power andaccuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a kicking aidcapable of providing a larger and stronger kicking surface to an inner,outer and upper portion of a shoe.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide akicking aid capable of providing a raised kicking surface located on anupper portion of a shoe to cover a shoe's shoelaces in order to providemore accuracy and power when kicking a ball from the raised kickingsurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, akicking aid is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a sleeve having anopen front portion and an open rear portion and adapted to be fittedover an arch area of a shoe so that the front portion is proximate a toeend of the shoe and the rear portion is proximate a foot entry portionof the shoe, and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion ofthe sleeve, wherein the raised kicking surface ascends from proximatethe front portion of the sleeve to proximate the rear portion of thesleeve.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, amethod for kicking a ball is disclosed, comprising, in combination, thesteps of providing a sleeve having an open front portion and an openrear portion and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion ofthe sleeve, the raised kicking surface ascends from proximate the frontportion of the sleeve to proximate the rear portion of the sleeve,fitting the sleeve over an arch area of a shoe so that the front portionis proximate a toe end of the shoe and the rear portion is proximate afoot entry portion of the shoe, and kicking a ball with a portion of thesleeve.

[0010] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following, more particulardescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the kickingaid of the present invention, showing the sleeve fitted over an archarea of a shoe.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the kicking aid of FIG. 1, showinga sample logo on the raised kicking surface.

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top view of the kicking aid of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, reference number 10 refers generally tothe preferred embodiment of the kicking aid of the present invention.The kicking aid 10 comprises a sleeve 12 having an open front portion 14and an open rear portion 16. The sleeve 12 is adapted to be fitted overan arch area 18 (shown in FIG. 1) of a shoe 20 (shown in FIG. 1) so thatthe front portion 14 is proximate a toe end 22 (shown in FIG. 1) of theshoe 20 and the rear portion 16 is proximate a foot entry portion 24(shown in FIG. 1) of the shoe 20. The bottom portion of the sleeve 12should be dimensioned so as to fit over the non-cleated underside of acleated shoe, between the front and rear sets of cleats—as illustratedin FIG. 1.

[0015] The sleeve 12 further comprises a raised kicking surface 26located on an upper portion of the sleeve 12. The raised kicking surface26 ascends from proximate the front portion 14 of the sleeve 12 toproximate the rear portion 16 of the sleeve 12. Preferably, the raisedkicking surface has a thickness in the range of approximately one-eighthof one inch at its lowest point, and approximately three-fourths of oneinch at its highest point, although these dimensions could be departedfrom in either direction. Preferably, the sleeve 12 is comprised of arubber-type material, although plastic, leather, or other materialscould also be used.

[0016] The raised kicking surface 26 serves several purposes. Itincreases the size of the kicking surface when a ball is kicked witheither the inside or outside of the shoe, making for greater accuracy.When the ball is kicked from the top of the shoe, the raised kickingsurface 26 creates greater kicking power and, by covering the laces andprovide a uniform, smooth surface, potentially greater accuracy.

[0017] There are other benefits associated with the kicking aid 10. Theraised kicking surface 26 can protect the foot of the wearer whenanother player wearing a cleated shoe steps on the wearer's foot. Insuch instance, the raised kicking surface 26 will act to protect the topof the wearer's foot from the other player's cleats. Moreover, inchildren's soccer in particular, it is not uncommon for one player toinadvertently kick another player in the face or head. In such instance,the raised kicking surface 26, particularly where it is manufacturedfrom rubber or some other compressible material, will be less hard thanthe top of the wearer's foot and will therefore impact less severely onthe body of the child who has been kicked.

[0018] The raised kicking surface 26 and sleeve 12 can be manufacturedas a one-part assembly. Alternatively, the sleeve 12 could define ahollow receptacle at the top portion thereof, into which the raisedkicking surface 26 may be inserted and secured in an appropriate manner.Still further, it would be possible to provide the raised kickingsurface 26 as a permanent part of a shoe 20.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment, indicia 28 (shown in FIG. 2) arelocated on the sleeve 12. The indicia 28 could be in the form of a logo,a name, an advertisement, a picture or some other kind of marking thatmay make the kicking aid 10 more stylish or commercially marketable.

[0020] Still referring to FIGS. 1-3, the sleeve 12 preferably defines anupper aperture 30 and a lower aperture 32 on each side of the raisedkicking surface 26 proximate the rear portion of the sleeve. Theapertures 30 are dimensioned to permit the passage of shoelace ends (notshown) from the shoe up through the apertures 30. The shoelace ends maythen be passed downward through the apertures 32. The shoelaces are thentied and, optionally, may be tucked under the raised kicking surface26—preventing the shoelaces from becoming untied or from contacting theball during kicking.

[0021] While the invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A kicking aid for a shoe comprising: a sleeve having an openfront portion and an open rear portion and adapted to be fitted over anarch area of a shoe so that said front portion is proximate a toe end ofsaid shoe and said rear portion is proximate a foot entry portion ofsaid shoe; and a raised kicking surface located on an upper portion ofsaid sleeve; wherein said raised kicking surface ascends from proximatesaid front portion of said sleeve to proximate said rear portion of saidsleeve.
 2. The kicking aid of claim 1 further comprising indicia locatedon said sleeve.
 3. The kicking aid of claim 1 wherein said raisedkicking surface defines at least on aperture on each side of said raisedkicking surface proximate said rear portion of said sleeve and whereineach said aperture is dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoelacetherethrough.
 4. The kicking aid of claim 3 wherein said upper portionof said sleeve defines at least one aperture on each said side of saidupper portion proximate said at least one aperture on each side of saidraised kicking surface and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned topermit the passage of a shoe lace therethrough.
 5. The kicking aid ofclaim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises a rubber-type material.
 6. Thekicking aid of claim 1 wherein said raised kicking surface has athickness of approximately one-eighth of one inch proximate said frontportion of said sleeve and a thickness of approximately three-quartersof one inch proximate said rear portion of said sleeve.
 7. A method forkicking a ball comprising, in combination, the steps of: providing asleeve having an open front portion and an open rear portion and araised kicking surface located on an upper portion of said sleeve, saidraised kicking surface ascends from proximate said front portion of saidsleeve to proximate said rear portion of said sleeve; fitting saidsleeve over an arch area of a shoe so that said front portion isproximate a toe end of said shoe and said rear portion is proximate afoot entry portion of said shoe; and kicking a ball with a portion ofsaid sleeve.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step ofproviding indicia located on said sleeve.
 9. The method of claim 7wherein said raised kicking surface defines at least on aperture on eachside of said raised kicking surface proximate said rear portion of saidsleeve and wherein each said aperture is dimensioned to permit thepassage of a shoelace therethrough.
 10. The method of claim 7 whereinsaid upper portion of said sleeve defines at least one aperture on eachsaid side of said upper portion proximate said at least one aperture oneach side of said raised kicking surface and wherein each said apertureis dimensioned to permit the passage of a shoe lace therethrough. 11.The method of claim 7 wherein said sleeve comprises a rubber-typematerial.